Author: Money Mechanics

The main U.S. equity indexes bounced off their intraday lows Thursday, but extended their respective losing streaks to three. The short-term trend continued despite incoming data showing both consumers and businesses remain resilient drivers of economic growth.The Bureau of Economic Analysis said before the opening bell that its final estimate of second-quarter gross domestic product showed the U.S. economy grew by 3.8% from April to June, faster than the 3.3% it saw in the second reading.”It only seems fitting that the most distrusted bull market of all time is accompanied by the most distrusted economy of our lifetime,” From just…

Ford Motor Company is recalling more than 115,500 vehicles in the U.S. due to a potentially dangerous steering column defect.The problem stems from the upper shaft of the steering column, which may not meet required safety standards. If the shaft separates, drivers could suddenly lose the ability to steer — one of the most serious hazards on the road.Although no crashes or injuries have been reported, Ford and federal safety regulators are urging owners of certain trucks to take the recall seriously. Here’s a closer look at which vehicles are affected, why the defect is so concerning and the steps…

Interest ratesPhoto: Getty ImagesThe corporate pension de-risking market has hit the brakes after a record-breaking run. More than $14 billion in pension risk transfers were executed YTD through Q3 2024—the highest level in over 16 years. Yet YTD Q2 2025, volume had dropped 64% year-over-year.What’s driving this sharp reversal? Increasingly, it appears that corporate plan sponsors are behaving like bond traders—actively timing their de-risking strategies around rate moves and market conditions.Pension liabilities are highly sensitive to long-term interest rates. When rates rise, the present value of those liabilities falls, making it less expensive for companies to transfer them off their…

A soft earnings report pressured shares of the nation’s largest independent used car retailer, while a semiconductor giant extended its rally following reports of investment talks with another tech powerhouse. Major U.S. equities indexes lost ground Thursday, declining for a third straight day ahead of a key inflation report set for release Friday. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq were down 0.5%, while the Dow ended 0.4% lower. See here for Investopedia’s full roundup of the day’s market action. CarMax (KMX) shares plunged 20%, falling the furthest of any stock in the S&P 500, after the used car retailer reported…

KEY TAKEAWAYS President Donald Trump is reportedly set to sign an executive order on Thursday that would help bring TikTok’s U.S. operations under American control, averting a ban on the popular Chinese-owned social media app.The American group set to control TikTok in the U.S. includes billionaires Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan Murdoch, Michael Dell, and Oracle, with the software company overseeing TikTok’s all-important algorithm. President Donald Trump is reportedly set to sign an executive order on Thursday that would help bring TikTok’s U.S. operations under American control, averting a ban on the popular Chinese-owned social media app. NBC News…

The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) brought a considerable number of changes across a full spectrum of American institutions. With so much being discussed in the news, it can be easy for the important details to get lost in the noise.If you’re sticking to your retirement plan or are currently enjoying the retired life, the provisions in this legislation are worth paying attention to.Here are four important changes to consider and the steps to take in response. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free…

Depending on how you signed up, canceling Amazon Prime might be easier said than done. In fact, that’s one of the key issues in a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2023. The FTC lawsuit alleges that Amazon makes it easy to enroll in the shopping membership, but “knowingly complicated the cancellation process for Prime subscribers” who wanted to leave.While Amazon and the FTC agreed to a $2.5 billion settlement this week, the company denied any wrongdoing as part of the settlement terms. In Amazon’s motion to dismiss the complaint filed on October 18, 2023, the company…

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) is down to $111,000 as debates intensify about whether this downtrend is the start of a bear market or a dip in an uptrend.What Happened: Popular trader Ansem urged investors to stack BTC aggressively if prices dip below $100,000 next year or at the start of 2026, with an exit window targeted for 2028. Ansem aligned with fellow trader Plur Daddy, who earlier argued that the 4-year cycle theory is outdated. While Plur sees upside within 3–6 months, Ansem expects a longer bearish period before a strong rally kicks off in mid-2026.Also Read: Bitcoin, XRP, Dogecoin Extend…

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 3.8 percent in the second quarter of 2025 (April, May, and June), according to the third estimate released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the first quarter, real GDP decreased 0.6 percent (revised).The increase in real GDP in the second quarter primarily reflected a decrease in imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, and an increase in consumer spending. These movements were partly offset by decreases in investment and exports.Real GDP was revised up 0.5 percentage point from the second estimate, primarily reflecting an…

U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION WASHINGTON DC 20585 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 25, 2025 Tristan Abbey entered service today as the 11th Administrator of the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Abbey will be responsible for directing the U.S. government’s energy statistical and analytical agency. “EIA’s role to provide objective energy data and analysis is critically important at a time of dynamic domestic and global markets,” Abbey said. “I’m thrilled to be joining the team, and I’m committed to ensuring the agency continues to provide independent and objective energy information for the American people and policymakers.” “I am grateful to President Trump…